Gatlinburg, TN

In part one of this series "Cades Cove is an accessible area easily toured by auto!" we explored the history and beauty of Cades Cove.

Now we'll travel from the coves to the highlands, for some of the best views in the park that can be seen from the car. The park features many overlooks in the high elevations, each one featuring its own special beauty. But some are more specual than others.

No trip to the park is complete without stopping at Newfound Gap. Sitting on the state line that divides Tennessee and North Carolina, there is a huge parking lot that can accommodate many vehicles.

It was at this very spot that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 2, 1940 "for the permanent enjoyment of the people."

There are incredible views in every direction, looking down the Oconaluftee Valley towards the Plott Balsams of North Carolina or down the west prong of the Little Pigeon River towards the Sugarlands and Gatlinburg Tennessee.

In addition to the spectacular views, the Appalachian Trail crosses here as it continues along the state line on the highest crest of the Smoky Mountains. So you may encounter some intrepid hikers here that may have begun their journey at Springer Mountain Georgia or Mt. Katahdin Maine!

It's easy to get to Newfound Gap. Just take U.S. Hwy. 441 South from Gatlinburg TN or North from Cherokee N.C. As you approach the state line you will see the excellent signage and turnoffs to the parking area.

Newfound Gap is one of the highlights of any trip to the Smokies. Be sure to include a stop there on your next trip to the park!

It has been an interesting and controversial weekend. I have engaged in mental sparring with a lot of people that are much smarter than me, and it has taken its toll!

My ability to move quickly on my feet has diminished with each passing year. It is a new world, completely different from the one I grew up in so many years ago.

The best part the passing of time, though, is that each year the Great Smoky Mountains revert one year more back to a more pristine state. In the nearly forty years that I have frequented the park, the changes are dramatic.

The trees are bigger, the balds are grown over, and the overall look and feel is more natural and serene.

Have a great day!

Photos courtesy of Smokyphotos

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a popular and pleasant diversion from the hustle and bustle of busy downtown Gatlinburg. Although it takes just minutes to get there from the heart of town, the visitor is transported to a completely different time and place!

The fifteen mile, one way loop is not well-suited for those on a tight schedule. You will rarely be able to maintain the 10 mph speed limit, and you will be compelled to stop the car many times to get out and experience the ancient stream bed and the verdant forest.

There are some overlooks with good views, but this trail is more about Roaring Fork itself. It is a world of rocks and moisture and moss and shade loving plants. You are likely to spot a deer, or if you are really fortunate and observant, a black bear!

A few brave settlers once built small hardscrabble farms along this watercourse, and a few structures have been preserved here in an effort to depict what life was like in the time before the national park was established.

But the journey here is about the theater of the forest, the fragrance of the firmament, and the music of the cascading stream. It's a sensory explosion that overwhelms even the most citified sojourner and beckons them to stay and enjoy a long draught of primeval essence!

To get there from Gatlinburg, simply take Airport Road and follow straight into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and then follow the signs to the trailhead.

Photos Top: Roaring Fork, Bottom" "The Place of a Thousand Drips" courtesy of SmokyPhotos.com

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The black bear is the most popular and sought-after photography subject in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Park visitors all want to catch a glimpse of the large mammals, and will cast reason and good sense aside in order to land a "trophy" photo.

But black bears are wild animals. The park is not a zoo, but a habitat. A she-bear with cubs is a wondrous sight, but she will defend her offspring with her life, and will attack if she feels threatened.

In 2009, park officials have indicated that extraordinarily large black bear populations have led to an increased number of incidents with visitors. Some back country campsites and trails have been closed as a result.

The good news is that you'll have an excellent chance of seeing a bear during a visit to the park this year. The bad news is that you may become involved in a bear "incident" if you are not wary. Always keep in mind:

1. Bears are large and powerful animals and can cause serious injury or death.
2. Bears are attracted by improperly stored food or improperly disposed of garbage.
3. Bears with cubs are the most likely to act aggressively.
4. Feeding a bear can be a death sentence for the animal. Bears that become "nuisance" bears often have to be destroyed.
5. Keep a respectful distance from bears. You are a guest in their world.
6. Some people just don't get it. Report violators to park rangers.

And finally, make one of the three park visitor's centers your first stop on your next visit. Get the very latest information about active areas and closures. A little information and a lot of common sense go a long way towards a safe park experience.

And you just might save a bear's life by doing so!

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com! Photos of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!

The Cherokee people called the Great Smoky Mountains "Shaconage," or "place of blue smoke." It is a place of remarkable natural beauty, incredible views, and sparkling streams.

It is an ancient place, created by the cataclysmic collision of the continents which forced the formation of the tallest mountains on earth. But because these are also among the oldest peaks on the planet, they have been worn down and eroded over millions of years into their present state.

So although they are no longer the tallest or the biggest mountains in the world, they remain among the most beautiful.

Photos courtesy of Richard Weisser and SmokyPhotos.com

All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of ERA United Realty and Coweta Fayette Real Estate of ERA United Realty Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser 770-827-6225.
Learn more about Coweta County and Fayette County Georgia Real Estate, and to search the entire Georgia MLS for free with no registration required visit CowetaFayetteRealEstate.com!

Get the latest GA Foreclosure List Updated Daily!